Amarillo Albertson’s sold in United Supermarkets deal

AMARILLO – Albertson’s has sold its Amarillo and Wichita Falls stores in hopes of gaining Federal Trade Commission approval of its purchase of United Supermarkets.

The Amarillo store was sold to Lawrence Brothers, a chain based in Sweetwater and operated by MAL Enterprises. The store employs 92, and, “Lawrence Brothers has advised us that they are very interested in considering our associates for employment,” said Albertson’s spokeswoman Christine Wilcox.

Lawrence Brothers purchased the store inventory so no liquidation sale is planned, and in-store pharmacies also were included in the sale. “Any customers who are currently pharmacy patients should not have any interruption of service,” said Wilcox.

The Lawrence Brothers chain includes 14 stores in mostly small towns in Texas and New Mexico. Texas Lawrence Brothers locations include Anson, Aspermont, Breckenridge, Clyde, Hamlin, Knox City, Merkel, Munday, Seymour, Spur, Stanton and Winters.

Boise-based Albertson’s and Lubbock-based United Supermarkets announced a proposed merger in September 2013. After the merger, United would operate its United Supermarkets, Market Street and Amigos grocery stores as a subsidiary of Albertson’s.